Artificial-limb-locking mechanism



July 23, 1929. J. F. RowLEY ARTIFICIAL LIMB LOCKING MECHANISM Filed June25, 1927 Patented July 23, 1929.

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JAMES F. ROWLEY, F CHICAGO,.ILLI1\TOIS.

ARTIFICIAL-LIIVIB-LOCKING MlEcHANlsM.

Application led June 25,

This invention relates to articial limbs of the type operated by asuspender over the shoulder of the wearer'.

vThe main objects of this invention are to provide an artificial limb ofthe two section type in which the operator can lock the two sectionsagainst relative angular movement when the said sections are in variousangular relationships with respect to each other.

Heretofore various types of artificial limbs have been designed havingfor their main object the locking of the sections when in a flexedposition. Some of these forms have been automatic in operation andothers have made use of a ratchet and pawls controlled by a suspender.None of these limbs has been successful and at the present time there isno artificial limb on theV market which can, at the will of the' wearer,be lockedagainst relative angular movement when in any position,

`whether flexed or straight. Y

l Such an artificial limb has great utility as for instance when it isdesired to take a step up an inclined grade, such as going up hill. 1nsuch an instance, it is necessary to place the weight of the body on thelimb while in v various flexed positions. The present invention permitsthe wearer of the limb to use it in this manner and thus more closelyapproximate the actual use of a real limb than has been heretoforeaccomplished.

An illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which :A

Figure 1 is avertical sectional elevation of the knee joint with itsnecessary connections and the improved locking mechanism, withl portionsof the shin and thigh sections.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of f on depending ears 22 ofthe lbearing member 17. The face of the cam member 20 may bev Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the artificial limb showing the suspenderand suspender. Y v

' to secure a better grip on the flexible memthongs in position.

In the construction shown in the drawings,

the thigh section 1 is shown pivotally hinged` by a pin 2 to a shinsection 3, forming the'l usual customary knee joint connection for anartificial limb of this type. A back-check 4 is rigidly mounted at itslowerv end on shin. section 3 and extends upwardly through a i slot 5 inthe lower end of the thigh section 1.

The upper-end of the back-check is pivoted on the pin 2 andwhen the'shinand thigh sections are prolongated the back-check bears,V

lagainst a pad 6, which limits the forward swinging movement of the legsection.

.the sections agaiist relative Vrod 25.

1927. 'serial No. 201,353.

A forwardly projecting arm 7 of the backcheck 4f is provided with aroller 8 for receiving a thong 9 of the shoulder suspender in the usualmanner. The thong 9, after passing unlerneath'the roller 8 then passesupwardly an an-d then downwardly at the rear thereof, passing underneatha roller 10 which is at# tached to the upper end of an elastic web 11,the lower end of said webV being rigidly sec ured by screws or the like12 to the shin section 3. Y Y v e Theimproved locking means comprises astrap-like flexible member 15 which has one end attached to the outerfront surface of the thigh section near the'lower vend thereof by screwsor the like r16. Flexible member 15 passes down Vfrom this point ofattachment into the upper' open end ofthe shin section 3, around arigidly mounted bearing mem-n ber 17 ,which forms part of the lockingdevice and thenceupwardly around the outer back surface of the thighsection 1 and is attached thereto by screws 18. From a point near themedial part thereof, the flexible member 15 is bifurcated as shown mostclearly in Fig. 2. One-half of the flexible strap meinber passesupwardly on each side ofthe backcheckl, elastic member 11 .andisuspender thong 9. When the shin and thigh sectionsr are pivotally movedrelatively to each other, the flexible member 15 slides back and forthwill of the wearer atany p oint so as to lock ment. y l j v Thisgripping means comprises a cam mem-- bei-2O pivotally mountedona pin 21carried roughed or' corrugated as 'shown at 23 s o as ber 15., The cam20 is operated by an arm 24, one end of which is formed integrallyangular moveover the hub part'of the back-check 2 withthe cam 2O and theother end of which f is pivotally secured to thelowerf-end'of a The rod25 passes upwardly through an opening 26 in the shin section and has itsupper end secured to a pin 27, which carries the upper end of the'elastic web 11.

, In the operation of this artificial limb, the wearer operates thesections as he takes a step in the usual life-like manner by theshoulder suspender whichjisaftached tothe A thong 9 and which passesaround the rollers 8 and 10. As is customary inl legs of this character,the arrangement is such that the wearer secures a double action of theleg, thatY is, on the forward movement the leg flexes as it swings tothe front and is then straightened before the weight is placed upon it.

At any time that the wearer wishes to lock the sections against relativeangular movement, he lifts his shoulder an abnormal amount causing thesuspender thong to raise the roller 10, thus stretching the elastic -web11, and thereby lifting the rod 25, which is attached to the arm 24 ofcam 20. Upward movement of the arm 24 causes the cam 20 to engage orbear against the outer surface of the elastic member 15 and pinch it orgrip itA against the bearing face of the rigidly mounted bearing member17. The direction of movement of the cam 2O is such that when it onceengages the vflexible member 15, additional strain on the member 15tends to cause the cam 2O to have a tighter grip. As soon as the weighthas been removed from the limb and the shoulder of the wearer lowered toits normal position, the elastic web 11 will pull down on the rod 25 andthus automatically release theV cam member 20 from engagement f with theflexible member 15.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be understood that details of theconstruction shown may be altered or omitted Without departing lfrom thespirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An artificial limb comprising pivotally connected shin and thighsections, a bearing member mounted on said shin section, a flexiblemember having its ends attached to said thigh sections with the middleportion looped around said' bearing member and adapted to y slidethereover when said sections are pivotally operated, a locking memberfor clamping said flexible member against said bearing member', therebylocking said sections against relative angular movement and meansYindependent of said pivotal connection for actu-Y ating said vlockingmeans.

Y 2. An articial limb comprising pivotally connected shin and thighsections, 'a bearing membermounted on said shin section, a flexiblemember having its ends attached to said thigh sections with the middleportion looped around said bearing member and adapted to slide thereoverwhen said sections are pivotallv operated, a locking member for clampingsaid flexible member against said bearing member, thereby locking said.sections against relative angular movement, a means independent of saidpivotal connection for actuating said locking means to engage saidflexible member and automatic means for releasing said locking means.

`a bearing member rigidly mounted on one o connected shin and thighsections, a suspend- .er for controlling the knee action of said limb, abearing member mounted on one of said sections, a fiexible member havingits ends attached to the other of said sections, and the medial partthereof looped around said bearing member so as to slide thereover whensaid sections are pivotally operated, and locking means operativelyconnected to said'suspender for clamping said flexible member againstsaid bearing member, thereby locking said sections against relativeangular movement. ment.

5. An artificial limb comprising pivotally connected shin and thighsections, a suspender for controlling the knee action of said limb, abearing member mounted on saidsliin section, a flexible strap memberhaving vits ends attached to said thigh section, afmiddle portion ofsaid strap member contacting against said bearing member, and adapted toslide thereover when said sections are pivotally operated, a lockingmember for clamping said flexible member against said bearing memberthereby locking said sections against relative angular movement, andmeans operatively connecting said locking member wit said suspender. l

6. An artificial `limb comprising pivotally connected shin and thighsections, a suspender for controlling the knee action of said limb,

said sections,a flexible strap member having 'its ends attached to theother of said sections and the middle part thereof contacting againstthe face of said bearing memberso as to slide thereover whensaidvsections are pivotally operated, and a locking member operativelyconnected to said suspender for pinching said flexible strap memberagainst said bearing member thereby locking saidl sections againstrelative angular movement. 7. An artificial limb comprising pivotallyconnected shin and thigh sections, a flexible member attached to one ofsaid sections with a part thereof looped around a portion of said othersection so as to slide thereover when said sections arepivotally'operated, locking means for engaging said flexible membertherebylocking said sections A against relative angular movement, and asuspender for controlling said locking means.

8. An artificial limb comprising pivotally connected shin and thighsections, a flexible member attached to one of said sections with a partthereof looped around la portion of said other section so as to slidethereover when said sections are pivot-ally operated, locking means forengaging said flexible member thereby locking said sections againstrelative angular movement, a suspender for actuating said locking meansto engage said flexible member. and automatic means for releasing saidlocking means.

9. An artificial'limb comprising pivotally connected shin and thighsections, a flexible member having its ends attached to one of saidsections and the medial part thereof looped around a portion of saidother section so Vas to slide thereover when said sections are pivotallyoperated, locking means for engaging said flexible member therebylocking said sections against relative angular movement, and a suspenderfor controlling said locking means.

10. An artificial limb comprising upper and lower sections having apivotal connection7 means for locking' said sections together so as toprevent relative movement thereof around said pivotal connection, and asuspender having connections for rocking said lower section forwardly onsaid pivotal connection and for operating said means to cause the twosections to be locked together.

1l. An artificial limb comprising upper and lower sections having apivotal connection, means for locking said sections together so as toprevent relative movement thereof around said pivotal connection, asuspender having connections for rocking said lower section forwardly onsaid pivotal connection and for operating said means to cause the twosections to be locked together, and resilient means for opposing theaction of said suspender and connections and for moving said' lockingmeans to released position.

Signed at Chicago this 23rd 4day of June, 1927.

JAMES F. ROWLEY.

